Lights Up on 2003 UMT Season

The season opens in June with the beloved American musical, The Fantasticks. In July, audiences will be treated to Honk!, a modern adaptation of the classic fable the Ugly Duckling. The season will close with a bang as UMT presents Annie Get Your Gun.

The 2003 season also marks the debut of Bruce Cohen on the Utah theater scene. Cohen, UMT’s new Artistic and Managing Director, is a native of Virginia who most recently served as Director of Theater for the Columbus (Ohio) Jewish Center and was on the theater faculty of Denison University. He has almost three decades of experience in all facets of theater production. In addition to running theater companies and teaching at universities, Cohen is a produced playwright, professional actor and director, and has recently been appointed by Mayor Matthew Godfrey to the Ogden City Arts Committee.

“UMT marks a very exciting opportunity for me. This is a chance to take the helm of a well-regarded organization, an organization with deep roots in a supportive community, and continue its growth to be a source of pride for all of Utah,” said Cohen. “I believe that UMT and Ogden are well positioned to become a regional theater standout. What with the strength of WSU’s Department of Performing Arts, the impressive facilities at the Browning Center and Peery’s Egyptian Theater, and the long tradition of active and passionate support for cultural events, Ogden could well become synonymous with the arts in Utah.”

Among the new focuses Cohen has brought to UMT, is an emphasis on hiring Uthans for the seasonal staff of the organization.

“There is such a rich field of talent and craft in the area, it made casting and hiring a real luxury for us at UMT,” said Cohen. “In fact, our entire summer company is roughly 50 percent Utahn. This is a demonstrative difference over previous seasons and, in my view, a real justification for calling ourselves the ‘Utah’ musical theater.”

Fans of UMT will also discover new ticket options for the 2003 season. Subscriptions for the full season will cost $60 per adult (a savings of $2 off per show, general admission). In addition, every adult subscription purchased allows the purchase of two youth subscriptions (age 7-17) at the rate of $3 each. Students with a valid ID may purchase tickets for $10 per show.

The Fantasticks runs June 13-28 at the George and Dolores Eccles Theater in the Val. A. Browning Center at WSU. Honk! runs July 4-July 19 and Annie Get Your Gun will be presented August 1-16. Both Honk! and Annie Get Your Gun will perform at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in downtown Ogden. All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Each production will also perform a 2 p.m. matinee performance on the first Saturday of its run.